Man Charged In Bank Robbery

February 13, 1997|By KELLI CAPLAN Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS — A Newport News man was arrested Wednesday afternoon hours after he allegedly robbed the Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union and a man who was walking out of a bank in the lobby of the Police Department building.

Edward Sylvester Ricks, 31, of the 4400 block of Baughman Court, was charged with two counts of robbery and one count each of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to Patty Schlosser, police spokeswoman.

He was in jail in lieu of $35,000 bond Wednesday night.

Ricks allegedly robbed a 58-year-old Newport News man at gunpoint of a small amount of money as he was walking out of NationsBank at 2600 Washington Ave. at 12:10 p.m., Schlosser said. The victim was not injured.

About 10 minutes later, Ricks allegedly robbed the credit union at 3711 Huntington Ave., Schlosser said. He entered the credit union and stood in line, she said. When he got to a teller's window, he asked for change, she said.

When the teller gave him the quarters he requested, he jumped over the counter and pushed her aside, Schlosser said. He allegedly took an undisclosed amount from the cash drawer before running outside, she said.

He jumped into a white 1994 Toyota pickup that had been reported missing by its owner, Schlosser said.

The teller was able to provide police with a good description of the robber, she said. With that detectives were able to gather information about his whereabouts, Schlosser said.

They found Ricks at a boarding house in the 600 block of 41st Street, Schlosser said. Arresting officers recovered some of the money that had been stolen from the bank.